The Star Rating for prepaid funeral plans will help consumers identify where products sit in the market, in terms of the overall quality and comprehensiveness of the features and benefits of the product.

The prepaid funeral plan market currently comprises of almost 100 products and Defaqto has analysed these from 26 product providers.

Many of the products are purchased direct; the Star Rating will help consumers take into account the value of the cover rather than just the cheapest plan.

Defaqto has witnessed the continuing growth and emergence of a burgeoning funeral plan market as a result of the desire for consumers to have arrangements already in place whilst they are still alive and to lock in the cost of their funeral against inflation.

Reflecting this trend, Defaqto has used criteria that differentiate products in terms of their comprehensiveness, portability if a client moves location and the customer experience in areas of the quality of the funeral service and the treatment of third party disbursements.

Over 60 experts independently research, collect and assess nearly 41,000 financial products, of which just over 10,000 are star rated.

Defaqto has given each product an independent Star Rating from 1 to 5 based on an expert assessment of the overall proposition and quality it offers.

Ben Heffer, Insight Analyst for Wealth and Protection at Defaqto, said: “With consumers increasingly focused on price, our Star Ratings help segment the market in respect of the cover offered across a wide range of financial products.

“We have extended our Star Ratings to include prepaid funeral plans as more and more products have come onto the market, which is largely unregulated, yet taps into the consumer interest to plan ahead for their funerals and thereby relieve the burden on their loved ones.

“Funeral inflation is considerably above the ordinary rises in cost of living, so paying for your funeral at today’s prices is an attractive proposition for customers.”

It’s a fact people are living longer thanks to advances in medical care and an increasing awareness about how to live our lives in a healthier way. This is great news for mankind but are we prepared for a longer life?

People are buying their first homes later, starting families later and often working into their retirement years (or past it with the abandonment of ‘Default Retirement Age’).

As these key financial milestones are now often occurring later in life, it’s important that people review their life insurance to ensure they’ve not only got enough cover in place, but that the length of time they have it for is also adequate.

According to statistics from the Equity Release Council, Equity Release sales in 2015 hit a record high of £1.71 billion. So why is this market growing 29% year on year and is this really the best option for homeowners seeking a lump sum or monthly income ?

A survey from British Friendly has show that only 2% of self-employed people surveyed believed Income Protection policies paid out 90% of the time and 45% believed that the main reasons claims were declined was insurers deliberately trying not to pay. This is despite the industry average for accepted Income Protection claims exceeding 90%.

Legal and General announced today that in 2014 they paid out £520 million in individual protection claims. Not only is that £14.5 million more than in 2013, but an average of £1.4 million paid out to customers every single day.

Swiss Re have announced a 4.1% increase in the overall number of protection policies in 2014. Their report, looking at figures across the industry, found that 1,667,818 new term life assurance, whole of life insurance, critical illness and income protection policies were sold.

The FCA today finally announced plans to ban opt-out add-on sales on insurance products.
Opt-out add on sales is the process of automatically including an additional product for which they need to un-tick a box in order to opt-out and not buy the product.Continue reading “FCA to Ban Insurance Add-Ons”→

The guidance contained within the website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at customers in the UK. A FCA regulated expert will contact you after you submit your details to discuss your quotes.

Saveonlife.co.uk Limited is an Appointed Representative of Lifetime Protection Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA Number 535386.